The effect of practical training in obstetrics among medical students: symphysis-fundal height measurements

Summary. In a study to evaluate the repeatability of symphysis-fundal (SF) height measurements by medical students, and the effect of practical training in obstetrics on this repeatability eight medical students and an obstetrician initially measured the SF height three times each in six pregnant women. The students were then split into two groups: a training group and a control group. After a training period at the University Hospital in Trondheim, another series of measurements were taken on another group of pregnant women. For comparison of results analysis of variance was used. Within and between observer variation are presented, and the results showed that the practical training had a positive effect on the repeatability of SF height measurements.